CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A Dominican man who tried to evade scrutiny of his illegal drug trafficking operation by using the offline app WhatsApp got nearly three years in prison from a federal judge. Tommy Ramirez, 32, originally from the Dominican Republic and residing in St. Thomas, was sentencedto 33 months in prison for conspiracy to […]
Tag: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
U.S. Navy Seizes $22M of Cocaine In The Caribbean
MIAMI — The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy seized what they suspect is cocaine worth an estimated $22 million during a recent interdiction in the Caribbean Sea. The littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee was involved in the January 7 confiscation, which totaled roughly 700 pounds, U.S. 4th Fleet announced in a statement. “It is a […]
Florida Man Arrested After Flying Into St. Thomas Airport With 16 Pounds Of Weed
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A Florida man was arrested after attempting to fly into Cyril E. King Airport with 16 pounds of marijuana of marijuana, authorities said. Cameron J. Rolle of Belle Glade, Florida, was arrested on Thursday, at the St. Thomas airport after 7.33 kilograms of marijuana was discovered in his checked luggage, Virgin Islands […]
Feds Catch Up To Culebra Crew On Jet Skis With 57 Pounds Of Cocaine
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Federal authorities tracked down cocaine smugglers from Culebra with 57 pounds of cocaine being moved from Puerto Rico to St. Thomas on jet skis. Eight men were arrested Saturday in St. Thomas for allegedly smuggling 26 kilograms of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said. On December 11, 2021 Wilfredo Vazquez Lopez, […]
2 St. Thomas Men Charged With Smuggling 463 Pounds Of Cocaine By Sea At Night
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Two St. Thomas men face criminal charges after allegedly trying to bring at least 463 pounds of cocaine into the territory by sea, authorities said. Russell Robinson and Trevor Stephen appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller on a criminal complaint Tuesday, charging the men with conspiring to distribute five kilograms or […]
Feds Explore Rock City To Hotlanta Connection After Opioid Death Here
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Federal prosecutors have charged a man with conspiracy to possess and sell a dangerous opioid following an investigation into a woman’s possible overdose death on St. Thomas, authorities said. Elijah Hakim. 34, was arrested September 14, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia and transported to St. Thomas, USVI on criminal charges related to allegedly […]
Smugglers Used Kids’ Lunch Boxes to Ship Cocaine From Puerto Rico, Prosecutors Say
SAN JUAN — Five men were indicted Wednesday for allegedly running a “vast narcotics conspiracy” where they smuggled millions of dollars worth of cocaine into New York City — using children’s lunchboxes, prosecutors said. The zip-up lunchboxes — bearing popular cartoon characters from “My Little Pony” and “Despicable Me” — were mailed to homes across […]
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day To Be Held On Saturday
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting/Special Agent in Charge, John F. Kanig and U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event, scheduled for October 23rd, 2021 in St. Croix and St. Thomas. This initiative addresses a serious public safety and public health issue which impacts communities throughout the […]
5 Men In Cocaine Trafficking Ring Busted At Havensight Mall: USAO
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Five St. Thomas men were arrested on illegal drug charges at the Havensight Mall on Thursday, authorities said. Matthew Hazel, Jose Solano, Andrew Wilson, Cesar Thomas, and Lodwin Ashton were each charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 11 pounds of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said. All five men made […]
Child Abuse Complaint In Anna’s Hope Leads Cops To Marijuana Grow House
CHRISTIANSTED — A complaint about child abuse led police to a St. Croix residence that was allegedly being used as a marijuana grow house, authorities said. Mikey Luke, 48, of Anna’s Hope, was arrested Tuesday on criminal charges related to his alleged marijuana grow house, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said today. According to court […]